We recently caught up with our very own Dave Curry ‘64 and had the chance to ask him about his Phi Kap experience, and where life since Penn State has taken him. Here’s what he had to say:
Where has life taken you since you graduated? Give us a brief recap up to this point including career and family highlights.
About 57 years ago at Penn State, I fell in love with Judy Good during my senior year at Penn State. Upon graduation in June 1964, I was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy. Judy and I were married in February 1965 on a snowy winter evening in Pittsburgh. We enjoyed Navy life for five years, except the fact that ships took us apart. We had two children, Karen and Grant, while living in Norfolk; I was stationed on a refrigerator ship. Then on to Hawaii as navigator and Executive Officer on a salvage ship operating in the waters of Vietnam. Following the Navy, I developed expertise in the fields of production management, information systems, and business process improvement working for Xerox, Martin Marietta, Entergy, Lockheed Martin, Reliance Insurance, and Vertex, Inc. in places like Rochester, NY, New Orleans, and the Philadelphia area. Our daughter’s family is in Houston, and our son’s is near Atlanta. Retirement led us to Alexandria, LA which is home. Visit davecurry.blogspot.com. When I have spare time, I enjoy making and giving away small wooden crosses. I’ve made over 3000 in 10 years. Visit crossesbydave.blogspot.com.
When you look back on your time in Phi Kappa Sigma, what moments do you tend to remember most?
Looking back on my Phi Kap years, my fondest memory is being together with my Dad (Psi’ 29) and brother Sam (Psi ’62) at homecomings while at PSU. My Dad never missed a homecoming and traditionally was the first to sign in the guest register on homecoming Friday.
What are the most important lessons you learned because of Phi Kappa Sigma?
One of the most important things I learned in the fraternity was the importance of sincere relationships and treating others with respect. After I got out of the Navy, Judy and I returned to a couple of homecomings. We had a lot of fun in the fraternity; I have many great memories. One I will never forget (although my memory may not be exact) was near the end of our pledge year. The pledge master, Steve, was being tough on some of the guys. We also found out that he had bugged the party room where we had our pledge class meetings, so he knew what we were “up to”. Outside of the party room, we secretly planned a caper. One day our entire pledge class drove Steve down to the Phi Kap house at Dickinson in Carlisle, and I think we left him there to get back on his own. When we got back to State College, we called a meeting with the fraternity officers, and we laid the law down. All went well, but I must say that the last night of “Hell Week” was hell. I look back on pledging and being a brother with fond memories.
Would you or a brother you know make a great alumni profile subject? Email us at [email protected] or CLICK HERE to let us know!
